I have a perplexing problem of my own (mainly due to inexperience, I'm guessing!!)...
I have a tunnel that has a single portal on the left and a double on the right. Just above the tunnel will be a level area for a cement plant, then behind that, the mountain will continue to go upward. Just in front of the tunnel opening is the only place I have to put a dirt road as the entrance to the plant. My problem is, as I start to angle the foam (that will be the road) to meet the lower level I don't have enough clearance into/out of the tunnel for the trains (SEE PICTURE AND NOTICE SLANTED PIECE OF FOAM). I took the WS stone portal that I was going to use for it and cut it horizontally just above the capstone, then cut the very top row ooff, then glued the top row back onto the portal, giving me about 3/4 of an inch additional clearance, but it's still not enough for the portal, then the foam and it still be level with the upper track. Here's 2 other options I've thought of...
Any other thoughts???
Skip
Then don't bring the road that way.
Run it off the edge of the layout to the right of the picture and someplace back behind the cameraman bring it back onto the layout from the right.
Forcing everything to be connected by roads ON the layout is kind of a toy train thought.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Beyond the issues already raised, I question the adequacy of the tunnels' vertical clearances, especially the one on the right. Have you tested to see if your equipment will pass through? Also, it isn't evident you have access inside the tunnel. What happens if there is a major derailment inside or you need fix the tunnel track?
Mark
1) You don't need 1/2 inch foam to support a dirt road.
2) Check the side clearance on that center track before you close that tunnel in. That looks like a pretty sharp turn just inside the tunnel, and the left side wall on the inside of the turn looks very close to the track. Run your longest car through there while there is still time to make changes if required.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
I agree with the previous posters. Not sure just how much access you have and the vertical clearances look very tight.
Do you have any other location for the industry? If not try to place the plant on a 1/4 or 3/8" plywood base. The tunnel could be capped with the plywood and could even be removable if you get creative. Don't worry about the road, as others mention, it can just run off the layout.
You don't have to use foam for everything, support structure can be combined with wood riser and plywood deck as well.
It appears that there's a lot going on in such a concentrated space, but then many of us need to compress things to achieve what we want.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Cut the foam at the edge of the centre support. On the other side, build up a support using your foam. Continue your slope as planned. Over the double track put in a piece of 1/8 inch masonite cut to the width of your road and shoulders/ditches. You can cut a groove in the 1/2 inch foam to hold the masonite in place and then glue it in. I would put the rough side on the masonite up so you have something that your scenery material can bond to.
As other have said, check your lateral clearances in the tunnel, they do look tight. Run your longest car on both tracks with several freight cars on the opposite track to check fo side swipes.
Well ya have a few options in my opinion. Now the steeper angle may work but if ya do go that route i wouldnt make it to steep since concrete trucks will be moving in and out.
1. Atempt to move location of road entrance.
2. Have road exit off scene and maybe have it reappear somewhere else on the RR maybe an empty srpot on the edge.
3.Atempt to "patch" a thinner piece of foam into the place.
What ever way you chose to do it i hope ya get it figured out, happy modeling.